SYDNEY FC coach Frank Farina has exacted revenge on the club that sacked him, with his Sky Blues side moving into the top six with a 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar at Allianz Stadium.

Inspired again by the brilliance of marquee man Alessandro Del Piero, Sydney were too good for a Roar side that missed the midfield energy of the injured Massimo Murdocca.

It was Farina's first encounter against the Roar since they axed him in October 2009 after he was charged with drink driving.

Appointed Sydney coach in November, Farina has lifted the Sky Blues out of the doldrums, and into the top six for the first time since round four, with significant help from Italian great Del Piero.

The former Juventus star led the Roar on a merry dance for most of the 90 minutes, with his class showing as early as the sixth minute when turned makeshift central defender Ivan Franjic inside out before putting Sydney ahead.

The goal was Del Piero's 11th of his maiden A-League campaign, making him the highest scorer in a single season for the Sky Blues.

It was also Del Piero's third goal in two games against the Roar, having scored twice in Brisbane's 4-2 win over the Sydneysiders at Suncorp Stadium in November.

Horrible that night, Sydney were much-more committed this time around against a Roar side that has now lost 11 matches in what has been an ordinary bid for a hat-trick of A-League titles.

Brisbane's first genuine chance of a match played in front of 14,589 fans came in the 22nd minute when enigmatic attacking weapon Mitch Nichols got on the end of a near-post cross from fullback Jack Hingert.

But Sydney goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic was up to the task, tipping Nichols's shot over the crossbar.

The Roar grabbed an equaliser from the penalty spot in the dying stages of the first half when Dutch import Stef Nijland was brought down by Sydney's Brazilian left back Fabio.

Besart Berisha cooly converted the spot kick to score his 11th goal of the season.

Nijland looked dangerous on more than one occasion and was Brisbane's best avenue during his 75 minutes on the park before he succumbed to tired legs and was replaced by George Lambadaridis.

Sydney's winner came six minutes earlier, and with Del Piero again involved.

The 38-year-old playmaker floated a delightful ball into the penalty area, which was only partially cleared by Roar defender James Donachie, who had just entered proceedings as a replacement for the limping Shane Stefanutto.

Donachie's clearing header fell into the path of the unmarked youngster Peter Triantis, who buried his shot into the bottom of the net past fully extended Brisbane goalkeeper Michael Theo.

The Roar have little time to dwell on the defeat, having to fly to Thailand tomorrow for an AFC Champions League qualifier against Buriram United on Wednesday night.

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